This Week’s Exec Shifts: Under Armour And Telstra CMOs Exit; Pret A Manger, Duolingo, NFL Media Hire Marketing Heads

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This week, Under Armour’s CMO leaves, Telstra removes the role altogether, while Pret A Manger, Duolingo, Nestlé Waters North America, The Vitamin Shoppe, NFL Media and others hire marketing heads.

Check out our careers section for executive job openings and to post your own staffing needs.

Under Armour Brand VP Departs

Adrienne Lofton, who was appointed to senior vice president of global brand management at Under Armour in 2015, is leaving the Baltimore-based sportswear brand to “pursue other interests,” according to a statement. Although there is no official confirmation yet, Lofton reportedly accepted a position at rival company Nike. Under Armour’s head of global brand management Attica Jaques, who joined the company in 2016, will take over Lofton’s duties.

Pret A Manger Creates New Marketing Role

Former Just Eat chief marketing officer Barnaby Dawe has joined organic food shop Pret A Manger in the newly created role of chief customer officer. Dawe will be responsible for all of the company’s global marketing and communications in addition to leading its e-commerce platform when it officially steps into the role on October 1.

New Marketing Head Joins Winegrower Group

The Thornhill Companies, the umbrella brand for several California winegrower families, announced the appointment of Philip Pryce as its director of marketing. He is tasked with helping to oversee the company’s growth plan in the coming years.

Nicholas Miller, vice president of sales and marketing at The Thornhill Companies, said in a statement, “Phil is a leading industry executive with a proven track record of success. His level of experience and passion for the wine business are essential elements in our overall growth plan and he will no doubt be a key player in the future success of The Thornhill Companies.”

Consultant Joins Vitamin Shoppe As SVP And Marketing Head

Specialty retailer Vitamin Shoppe announced that David Mock, who has been serving as a consultant since January, has joined the company as executive vice president and chief merchandising and marketing officer. Mock’s role went into effect on July 30, and the news follows the appointment of Sharon M. Leite as the Vitamin Shoppe’s new chief executive officer in July.

“We are delighted to have Dave join the Vitamin Shoppe leadership team,” said Vitamin Shoppe chairman Alex Smith in a statement. “He is a talented and experienced retail executive with significant experience in retail transformation and a proven track record of successfully implementing strategies and rapidly turning around retailers driving top line growth and improved profitability.  We look forward to working with Dave as we continue building on the transformational work that is underway.”

Language Learning App Names CMO

Popular language learning service Duolingo announced the appointment of Cammie Dunaway as its first-ever chief marketing officer. Dunaway is the former president and CMO at KidZania, and was CMO at Yahoo prior to that. She is tasked with growing Duolingo, which currently has over 300 million users worldwide, as a subscription service. In an interview, she said that Duolingo plans on using brand marketing alongside traditional performance marketing to not only acquire more users, but also convert current ones into paying customers.

Former Airbnb Exec To Lead Marketing For Sendle

Australian courier service Sendle announced that Eva Ross, a former Airbnb business, marketing and operations executive, has been named as chief marketing officer. She replaces co-founder and CMO Craig Davis, who is stepping away from the role and day-to-day operations.

NFL Media Picks New VP

Greg Polcsa has been appointed to the newly created role of vice president of NFL franchise and network marketing at NFL Media. In this position, he will oversee the marketing efforts for Thursday Night Football and NFL Network shows, which include Good Morning Football, NFL Total Access, the entire Sunday NFL GameDay lineup and more. Other responsibilities include leading the NFL Network’s preseason, combine, draft and postseason marketing efforts.

In a statement, NFL Media senior vice president of marketing Julie Haddon said, “Greg is a fantastic addition to our marketing team. I’m thrilled to have someone with his deep brand, digital media and storytelling experience on our bench as we think about new ways to attract, engage and retain our NFL fans.”

Marketing VP Joins Nestlé Waters North America

Nestlé Waters North America has announced Yumi Clevenger-Lee as vice president and chief marketing officer. The marketing veteran, who most recently served as the Latin America region marketing director for Cereal Partners Worldwide, begins her role on August 1. She replaces Antonio Sciuto, who left the position to pursue other interests, and is tasked with overseeing the company’s US marketing operations.

“I am delighted that Yumi will be joining the NWNA team,” said Nestlé Waters North America president and CEO Fernando Mercé in a statement. “I am confident that her passion for consumers and proven track record of putting them at the heart of new product and campaign development will help us to further our leadership position in the bottled water industry.”

Pernod Ricard Appoints Global Marketing Director

Global distilled spirits brand company Pernod Ricard has appointed Darryn Hakof as global marketing director for Pernod Ricard Winemakers amid an ongoing reorganization of its senior management team. Hakof first joined the company since 1999 and has served in multiple management, business development and brand development positions. Most recently, he served as Pernod Ricard’s director of strategy and new business.

ADT Names Chief Marketer

Home and business security company ADT announced that Jochen Koedijk has joined the company as chief marketing officer. In this role, Koedijk will lead digital and brand marketing strategies and initiates for the company. Prior to the appointment, he served as vice president of marketing at Chewy.com. Jamie Haenggi, who previously oversaw marketing, is now the company’s chief customer officer.

“Customer retention and lead-generation is significantly driven by digital engagement, and Jochen’s leadership experience with world-class organizations such as Amazon, Chewy, and Electronic Arts is an immediate asset to our organization,” said ADT President Jim DeVries in a statement. “Jochen is a marketing innovator, and we’re excited for him to build upon the ADT brand for our next generation of customers.”

Live Nation Makes Two Appointments

Entertainment events company Live Nation announced Anna Plumley as senior director of marketing. Before joining Live Nation in June, Plumley served as the tour marketing director at AEG Presents and has 14 years of experience with live entertainment promotion. Her appointment coincides with Steve Ackles being named as senior director of touring

In a statement, Live Nation President of US Concerts Bob Roux said, “With the expansion of our touring team, Live Nation is able to service an even wider breadth of artists and help them cultivate the best live experience for their fans. Steve and Anna have already hit the ground running and we’re thrilled to have them on our team.”

Panasonic Aviation Hires New Global Marketing Head

Gaston Sandoval, who most recently served as senior vice president for global marketing at the fintech company OpenLink Financial, has joined Panasonic Aviation as global head of marketing and product management. In this role, Sandoval will oversee the Panasonic Aviation’s product and marketing strategy as it transitions into a digital platform and services company. His responsibilities include the company’s branding, product marketing, performance marketing and content marketing in addition to managing communications and products.

Marketing Chief Joins Audi Australia

Audi Australia has named Nikki Warburton as chief marketing officer. She takes over the luxury car company’s marketing duties from former marketing and communications director Anna Burgdorf, who exited Audi Australia in early July. Warburton previously served as group director at media company Austar United Communications until it was sold to Foxtel in 2012.

Temporary Mayo Clinic Marketing Chief

Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee CEO Maureen Bausch has agreed to step in as the Mayo Clinic’s interim chief marketing officer while the organization makes changes to its marketing leadership. Bausch has been serving in the position since May and joins as Mayo Clinic’s CEO Dr. John Noseworthy is retiring. A search for Dr. Noseworthy’s replacement is currently underway.

Telstra Removes CMO Role

Australia’s largest telecommunications company Telstra, amid a major restructuring effort among its senior executive team, announced significant changes to its leadership. Chief among them is the removal of the chief marketing officer position—the role will be integrated into other teams. That means Joe Pollard, who has been with the company since 2014 and most recently served as chief marketing officer and group executive media, will be leaving.

IBM Marketing Chief Makes Move To Japan

Lisa Gilbert, who served as IBM’s chief marketing officer in the UK and Ireland, will is transferring to the role of chief marketing officer in Japan. She has worked at the tech company’s London office for two years and was the vice president for marketing transformation operating from New York City before that. Gilbert has been with IBM since 1996.

Honestbee Picks New Marketing VP

Singapore-based online grocery and food delivery chain Honestbee named Christina Lim as its new vice president of marketing. Lim previously served as managing director for Dentsu Singapore and as a marketer for online grocery chain NTUC FairPrice. In her new role, she will lead the Honestbee marketing team as it continues to drive brand loyalty and awareness across different channels.

Airbnb Marketing Chief Leaves For Shangri-La

Ben Hallam, the global marketing chief for Airbnb, announced that he is departing from the role to become the head of customer engagement at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in Hong Kong. Hallam has been with the short-term lodging company since 2016 and was promoted to global marketing lead in January. In his new role, he will oversee the hotel chain’s strategic partnerships in addition to the end-to-end customer journey.

Marketing VP Joins Native Advertising Platform

Erin McCallion has been named as Outbrain’s new vice president for US marketing. In this role, her responsibilities will include US marketing, global communications and public relations initiatives. Prior to joining Outbrain, McCallion oversaw marketing and public relations initiatives as vice president of global marketing at Mediaocean.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly careers post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, August 3. Have a new hire tip? We’re looking for senior executive role changes in marketing and media. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

Job Vacancies 

Chief Marketing Officer Facebook Menlo Park, CA
VP, Marketing, The Walt Disney Studios Disney Burbank, CA
VP, Brand Marketing Aéropostale New York, NY
Head of Lifecycle Marketing Dropbox San Francisco, CA
Head of Performance Marketing Strategy Uber San Francisco, CA
Head of Integrated Marketing, Fire TV Amazon Seattle, WA

Make sure to check back for updates on our Careers page.

North Face Launches Lofty Experiential Pop-Up With ‘The Pinnacle Project’

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The North Face hid a pop-up activation on top of a mountain for its new “Pinnacle Archives” campaign. Accessible only on foot by those willing to hike for hours, the reward is being able to view, seek inspiration from and bid on gear worn by The North Face’s accomplished athlete partners.

The Pinnacle Project’s appeals to the outdoor gear brand’s core audience through inspiration, challenges and cause marketing.

A small red tent bearing The North Face logo was placed in Val San Nicolò in the Italian Alps last weekend—the first of many such marketing activations planned by the outdoor gear brand. The Pinnacle Project pop-up will remain for eight days on the mountain, where hikers can view collector’s items that once belonged to adventurers such as Alex Honnold, Conrad Anker, Simone Moro and Caroline Ciavaldine.

The items have been restored and labeled with an inspirational message from each athlete. Proceeds from the auction will go “back to the mountain,” The North Face says on its website.

Consumers are provided only with GPS coordinates and a countdown to the next event, which will occur in Berlin followed by Manchester this fall. The Pinnacle Project’s themes are in step with The North Face’s “Never Stop Exploring” slogan and appeals to its most motivated audience members with a fear of missing out (FOMO)—not to mention “travel bragging” photo opportunities for Instagram.

The North Face has embraced cause marketing as part of its overall brand message, launching its “Move Mountains” initiative in April. The initiative includes a series of videos that highlight females who are leading in their respective fields, female-focused catalogs, retail locations and partnerships with brands like The Girl Scouts of America and National Geographic.

Cause marketing is on the rise thanks to evolving consumer sentiment. An April study by Kantar Consulting found that businesses with a high sense of purpose have experienced a brand valuation increase of 175 percent over the past 12 years. A July study by Fuse found that 67 percent of teenagers were more likely to purchase from a company that supported a cause than one that doesn’t.

Naturally, outdoor brands are campaigning to protect the environment, promoting sustainability and conservation efforts. Pinnacle went so far as to sue the Trump Administration in defense of two Utah monuments.

Woolrich Partners With Lauryn Hill For ‘American Soul’ Collection, Campaign

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Woolrich is partnering with musicians for a new campaign called “American Soul Since 1830” designed to embody the brand’s 187-year US heritage. Partnering for the Fall 2018 collection is singer Lauryn Hill in her first fashion campaign.

“American Soul Since 1830” is being launched just in time to take advantage of Hill’s tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. In addition to becoming the brand’s first spokesperson, Hill customized several designs that will debut at Woolrich stores and retailers throughout North America and Europe.

“The opportunity to work with Ms. Hill was the perfect start to our ongoing ‘American Soul’ project, highlighting Woolrich’s American heritage,” Andrea Canè, creative director of Woolrich said in a press release. “We wanted Ms. Hill to bring her unique artistic eye to the product and DNA of the brand so we invited her to put her own spin on these classic Woolrich styles, reflecting her interpretation of ‘American Soul.’ ”

In a video spot for the campaign, Hill is filmed in New York City wearing Woolrich outerwear such as an Arctic Parka that she customized with appliqués and screen printing. A quote from Hill scrolls over the video, playing a slow, spare version of her 1998 track “Ex-Factor.” It’s no coincidence that they filmed in Harlem, where Hill shot the video for her 1998 single Doo Wop.

Woolrich has a long history interwoven into American history, from making wool blankets for Civil War soldiers and inventing the “Pennsylvania Tuxedo.” In the last few decades, the brand has expanded to other countries, but the “American Soul” campaign will remain in the US.

The brand’s “American Soul Since 1830” campaign uses Hill’s description of soul music as an example of how tradition and survival are an integral part of US history—what it means to have “American Soul.”

“American soul music, to me, is a continuum, a tremendous legacy of tradition if you will that communicates love’s survival—through hardship, suppression and other challenges,” reads the campaign video.

The Lauryn Hill collaboration, in tandem with the five ambitious Woolrich flagship stores being opened around the world, suggests a slight rebrand for the company; one focused on the worn-in, almost-200 year history of the fashion label.

New On AList: The Job Board For Marketing Executives; Industry Events Calendar

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Earlier this month, I wrote about the utilities we are developing at AList to become the go-to resource for your day-to-day. I am pleased to announce that today we are launching a jobs board dedicated exclusively to senior marketing roles as well as an update to our industry events page, which will allow for our community to post new positions and events.

With the increasing difficulty of finding and hiring qualified talent in the industry, we want to make it easier to reach an educated and senior base of talent across our readership.

If you are staffing your team, you can now tap into our global community of marketing leaders and up-and-coming talent to meet your needs.

Post A New Position

If you are looking for a new opportunity, this job board is dedicated to hosting and curating positions with brands who are seeking experienced marketing know-how.

View Companies Who Are Hiring

Finding it difficult to navigate the noise with “must-attend” events seemingly happening every day? Feel like you’re missing the boat? Check out our industry events calendar to see what’s on our radar.

If you’re producing an event for the marketing audience, host your event on our site by purchasing post credits here.

Ralph Lauren Grows Q1 Revenue Using Increased Marketing Focus

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Ralph Lauren reported that its net revenue for Q1 Fiscal 2019 increased by three percent to $1.4 billion, driven by sales in Asia—a key growth region—and Europe. The fashion brand credited this growth to a renewed focus and investment in its marketing efforts across digital channels, putting consumers at the center of everything. On its earnings call, Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet said that the company would continue executing its five-point strategy, which includes:

  • Winning over a new generation of consumers
  • Energizing core products and accelerate underdeveloped categories
  • Driving targeted expansion in its regions and channels
  • Leading with digital
  • Operating with discipline to fuel growth

The company increased its marketing investment by 20 percent compared to last year, focusing mainly on its Spring Polo campaign featuring white Polo shirts, leading to global sales and double-digit growth in the menswear category. The company continues to engage with a younger generation of consumers by relying on celebrity influencers who wear its products at key events such as Wimbledon. Launching CP93 limited edition collection with callbacks to its roots in the Americas Cup sailing race amplified the Wimbledon sponsorship while elevating the brand’s voice overall.

“Our goal is to recruit millions of consumers into our brand each year,” said Louvet. “To achieve that, we’re continuing to increase our marketing investment and shift our standing to digital channels that matter most to consumers today.”

According to Louvet, as the official outfitter for Wimbledon, the company was able to increase its reach across digital channels and social media through celebrity influencers such as actress Poppy Delevingne, who took over Polo’s Instagram story to share her “stylish take on Wimbledon.”

In total, Polo generated over 6 billion impressions globally, and the company will continue leveraging entertainers, athletes and other influencers to represent different aspects of its brand.

Ralph Lauren expressed its consumer focus with a pop-up custom shop with exclusive prints at Wimbledon, emphasizing how customization energizes its core product offerings. Similarly, the company’s small format store at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles has a “create-your-own” shop that makes up about 10 percent of its sales.

Louvet said that international growth was a priority for the company, with mainland China being its largest near-term opportunity for growth. Ralph Lauren continues to grow rapidly in this area, driven by digital commerce platforms such as Tmall and WeChat.

“This growth was supported by targeted marketing through social media and influencer engagement,” said Louvet, adding that the company is on track to reach half a billion dollars in revenues over the next five years in China.

In Europe, the brand partnered with online retailers with digital campaigns that showcased the versatility of its Polo shirts. The campaigns worked to significantly increase the Polo brand visibility, which drove sales. Japan saw a sticker campaign on its popular messaging app Line, which more than tripled Polo’s followers in the region.

Given the global successes it found, Ralph Lauren intends to increase its marketing investment by high single to low double digits with incremental growth in the second quarter to amplify its upcoming 50th-anniversary fashion show. Long-term marketing investments will be comprised of roughly five percent of sales.

Louvet concluded by saying, “As we execute our next great chapter plan, we are encouraged by our early progress and the continued improvements in the underlying trends in our business.”

On Brand: Deloitte’s Suzanne Kounkel Discusses Changing Role Of CMO

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When Deloitte’s chief marketing officer in the US, Suzanne Kounkel, imagines the company’s future, she sees a brand that stays true to its core principles despite the technological and cultural changes shaping the world. She describes that core as being rooted in inclusion, which drives the multinational company’s creative process, and a multidisciplinary approach toward serving its clients. Although Kounkel doesn’t believe that there will be a dramatic change to the Deloitte brand itself, she does think that the marketer’s role will continue to evolve, impacting the company’s activities as different technologies impact the world.

The CMO’s Evolving Role

“I certainly believe that the role of the CMO has changed dramatically over the past couple of years,” Kounkel explained, speaking with AList. “There has always been technology to enable marketing, but one of the really dramatic changes is that it now involves more of the enterprise technology footprint.”

To adjust for these changes, CMOs need to increase communications with other members of senior leadership, including the CIO and CFO. Kounkel describes the new CMO role as “being the instigator, responsible for growth in a way that historically hasn’t been the case.”

More specifically, marketing is becoming less about creating leads and more about proving the ROI of campaigns. Although creativity remains at the core of the role, technology is making a major impact. Additionally, while the technology in and of itself is important, she said that leaders must think about what marketing processes they enable, as CMOs are becoming increasingly responsible for the brand experience for both customers and employees.

According to Kounkel, the notion of employees has also changed, because there are the employees that are housed within the company’s walls and there are those who are part of the broader ecosystem. She said, “As the CMO, I care a lot about that in my role, but we also do that work as a firm for our clients, and it is very much top of mind for them. In today’s world, the notion of what an employee is is changing dramatically, and the pool of talent has become more critical.”

Kounkel said that CMO infrequently own all of those components, but they need to be involved with their implementation and orchestration to support the brand. She also stated that Deloitte’s goal is to “push at the forefront” by using industry insights to help its clients harness the power of new—and sometimes scary—technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to create value in their markets.

“The world is changing, so we’re all in the business of change and keeping up with it by becoming different and better leaders.”

Diageo Launches Dynamic Ad Campaign That Reacts To Time And Weather

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Diageo is offering consumers different reasons to grab drinks throughout the day with its newly launched outdoor ad campaign. Signs located at parks, bus stops, subway stations change hourly in accordance to certain triggers—which include the weather, temperature and time of day—to promote its Gordon’s and Tanqueray gin brands along with Captain Morgan, Smirnoff and Smirnoff Cider in London.

For example, if it’s morning a sign may read, “Sun’s out, gin’s out.” Then it will switch to, “Too busy for a 5pm G&T? Not that busy,” when the sun sets. Other trigger events include a Smirnoff Cider sign that will show near parks when the temperature hits a certain level, with more datasets to be revealed.

According to Diageo, these outdoor signs are optimized hourly by location to the nearby audience to “stimulate consideration and purchase.” The dynamic signs will run three days a week, Thursday to Saturday, through December as a supplement to the company’s other out-of-home activities.

“Out-of-home always features heavily on our media plans because we value its brand building qualities and the rich creative canvas it provides, but the innovation we are seeing in the medium now means it can now offer so much more,” said Anita Robinson, European category director at Diageo, in a statement.

“Digital technology and dynamic scheduling allow us to be more agile and responsive than ever in terms of when and where we activate campaigns for our portfolio of brands while also providing significant business benefits from booking out-of-home at scale.”

Developed in partnership with Posterscope, the dynamic sign campaign represents “the most sophisticated and complex portfolio campaign” the location-based marketing specialist has ever done, as it maximizes the benefits of digital out-of-home advertising. The goal is not only to establish an overall presence for Diageo, but have one that can react to key moments for each product throughout the rest of the year.

Burger King Brings ‘Pink Tax’ Awareness In New Chicken Fries Campaign

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Burger King launched a cause marketing campaign to end the “pink tax,” the practice of charging more for a similar product simply because it’s marketed to women.

In a video posted on YouTube, female customers were asked to pay more for chicken fries because they were packaged in a custom pink box. When the women refused, the manager asked if they speak up while experiencing the same price disparity in a drug store. The answer was no.

“We created this experiment with fan-favorite Chicken Fries to demonstrate the effect of pink tax and how everyone should pay the same for the same products—whether it’s pink or not,” Christopher Finazzo, North American president for Burger King said in a press release.

To spread awareness of the campaign, Burger King is offering its Chicken Fries at a lower price of $1.69 in select US restaurants. The pink chick fries box was available on Thursday for a one-day promotion in select locations in Miami, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago—and cost the same as regular Chicken Fries.

Burger King’s “Chick Fries” campaign encourages viewers to support H.R. 5464, the Pink Tax Repeal Act introduced by Congresswoman Jackie Speier in April. If passed, the act would allow the Federal Trade Commission to enforce violations. In addition, charging more for similar or identical products based on gender may result in civil action by the State Attorneys General.

According to a 2015 study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, the female version of many products cost more 42 percent of the time.

The quick service restaurant has advocated for equality in previous campaigns, such as its famous Proud Whopper—a Whopper hamburger with no changes except for a rainbow-colored wrapper that said, “We are all the same inside.”

This Week’s Exec Shifts: Anheuser-Busch, Bally Appoint CMOs; Unilever CMO To Head Advertising Association

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This week, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Bally appoint new marketing heads while Unilever’s CMO agrees to lead the Advertising Association. Also, Group Nine Media names a VP to lead marketing for its digital brands, Virgin Australia names marketing director, LA Phil announces marketing vice president and the Nielsen CEO announces retirement.

Anheuser-Busch InBev Promotes CMO To Dual Role

Anheuser-Busch InBev chief disruptive growth officer Pedro Earp has been promoted to chief marketing officer in addition to retaining his previous title as the brewer consolidates the number of regional management zones around the world. The position goes into effect on January 1. Earp joined the brewery in 2013 and is its former VP of marketing for Latin America North.

Group Nine Media Hires VP To Oversee Brand Marketing

Rachel Baumgarten has joined Group Nine Media as its as executive vice president of marketing. In this role, she will be responsible for the company’s brand and for creating multi-faceted initiates for the company brand portfolio, which includes Thrillist, The Dodo, Seeker and NowThis. Baumgarten will also lead the company’s sales marketing activities. She most recently served as Omnicom Media Group managing director and is a former senior vice president at Viacom Velocity Integrated Marketing.

“As Thrillist, NowThis, Seeker and The Dodo reach super-fan loyalty levels, Group Nine is increasingly becoming the go-to partner for advertisers that want to be part of action-sparking storytelling,” said Christa Carone, President of Group Nine. “Rachel brings her own marketing storytelling to our business, helping us further build on our momentum and creating even stronger connections with industry, client and agency partners.”

IMAX Premieres New Marketing Lead

IMAX revealed that JL Pomeroy is its current chief marketing officer, having taken charge of the movie technology company’s global marketing efforts on July 11. She replaces Eileen Campbell, who has served in the role since 2013 and moved on to “other interests,” according to the company. Pomeroy is the founder of the JumpLine Group agency, which she ran before joining IMAX.

Virgin Australia Picks Up Former Bank GM As Marketing Director

Michael Nearhos, who previously served as the general manager of brand experience at the National Australia Bank, has been appointed to the newly created role of marketing director at Virgin Australia. Nearhos has served in multiple senior marketing roles throughout his career at institutions such as the Commonwealth Bank Australia and Interbrand in London in addition to having experience in the airline and hotel industries.

Bridgestone VP Retirement Triggers Marketing Appointments

Bridgestone Americas made several executive changes to the marketing divisions for both its consumer tire business and retail operations. The moves follow the announcement that Phil Pacsi will officially retire as the company’s vice president of sports and events marketing and training on September 30.

Amber Holm has been promoted to vice president of marketing, consumer and customer engagement in the US and Canada, where she will lead activities on sports and entertainment platforms such as the NFL, NHL and the PGA Tour.

Jeffrey Lack is taking the role vice president of marketing for the consumer tire division in the US and Canada. Lack is tasked with leading marketing efforts across the company’s consumer tire business, which includes brand building and digital engagement programs.

Dave Nientimp has been named vice president of marketing and merchandising for Bridgestone Retail Operations. In this position, he will oversee the overall marketing strategy for the company’s retail locations, which includes brand building, digital initiatives and tire and service merchandising.

Constellation Brands Beer Up Marketing VP

Alcohol beverage company Constellation Brands has promoted John Alvarado to senior vice president of brand marketing for its beer division. Alvarado will provide strategic direction for the company’s marketing teams across several beer brands while serving on Constellation’s marketing leadership team.

LA Philharmonic Names Marketing VP

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has appointed Philip Koester to be vice president of marketing and communications. Koester was previously the vice president for sales and marketing at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, and he steps into his new position on September 10. In this role, he will lead and manage all of the organization’s marketing communications and sales operations.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Phil to the Los Angeles Philharmonic,” said CEO Simon Woods in a statement. “His experience both in Chicago and Los Angeles, his understanding of digital marketing, and his commitment to reaching audiences across traditional social boundaries make him the perfect person to lead the LA Phil’s audience building into a new era.”

JPMorgan Chase Hires Chief Media Officer

Investment bank JPMorgan Chase announced that it has hired Andrew Knott to serve in the newly created chief media officer role. Before the appointment, Knott served as the chief marketing officer for the National Australia Bank and held a high-level marketing role at McDonald’s. In his new position, he is tasked with overseeing Chase’s paid, owned and earned media as the financial institution continues to grow its digital media strategy.

PepsiCo Marketing Chief To Depart

PepsiCo chief marketing officer Kristin Patrick announced that she is leaving the company effective July 27. Patrick has been with PepsiCo since 2013, and most recently oversaw the company’s in-house content studio, the Creators League Studio.

Unilever CMO To Head Ad Association

The Advertising Association has named Unilever CMO Keith Weed as its newest president. He replaces Travelopia CEO Andy Duncan who had served in the role since 2013 and will head the organization in its mission to further strengthen the UK’s ad industry. As CMO, Weed most recently called for reforms in influencer marketing space to reduce fraud.

Bally Names CMO

Swiss luxury fashion brand Bally hired Eva Quirrenbach as chief marketing officer at the same time it promoted Silvia Onofri to chief executive officer of the EMEA region. Before joining Bally, Quirrenbach served as Tory Burch’s vice president of global brand marketing. Onofri will continue in her role as the company’s vice president of global wholesale.

Yeti Hires Marketing Head

Kristi Jackson will lead all the marketing initiatives for Yeti Cycles as its newly hired marketing director. She most recently served as director of digital media and commerce for Nike North America, where she executed a variety of acquisition and engagement programs.

“Kristi’s experience leading strategic marketing programs will be vital as we look to the future of Yeti,” Yeti president Chris Conroy said in a statement. “Her passion for creating consumer-led marketing programs and ability to manage multifaceted campaigns to support business priorities uniquely position her for success with Yeti.”

Nielsen CEO To Retire At Year’s End

Mitch Barns, Nielsen’s chief executive officer and member of the Board of Directors, announced that he will retire at the end of 2018 after serving with the company for over 20 years. The current chairman of the board James Attwood has been named executive chairman, and he will direct the search for Barns’ replacement. In his two-decade career, Barnes has held leadership roles across all of Nielsen’s major businesses.

“Mitch has left an indelible mark on Nielsen—his commitment to integrity, openness, values and engagement will continue to be the heart of this company for years to come,” said Attwood in a statement. “I, along with the rest of the Board of Directors, thank him for his service.”

Universal Studios Hires Former Bank Exec To Lead Marketing

Mariela Ure, who was previously the head of enterprise consumer segments strategy at Wells Fargo & Co., is now the new chief marketing officer at Universal Studios Hollywood. She will lead the theme park’s overall brand direction in addition to CityWalk’s dining, shopping and entertainment experiences in Universal City.

Hearst Magazines Names President

Hearst Magazines announced that Troy Young will be assuming the role of president, succeeding David Carey, who announced his departure last month. Young previously served as president of Hearst Magazines Digital Media, a role he has served for five years.

“Troy understands how vital it is for our brands to engage more actively with consumers across platforms,” Hearst chief operating officer Mark Aldam stated in a memo. “His innovative approach to product development and high-quality brand experiences will continue to propel our industry-leading magazines forward.”

NBC Sports Picks New President

Pete Bevacqua has joined NBC Sports Group in the newly created role of president. He officially steps in the position in September, and will be tasked with overseeing marketing, programming and digital for the group in addition to the NBC Sports Regional Networks and all golf businesses. Bevacqua was most recently CEO at PGA America, a position he held for the past six years.

HyreCar Appoints Independent Director

Ridesharing service HyreCar announced that Brooke Skinner Ricketts has joined its board of directors. Skinner Ricketts is currently the chief marketing officer at Cars.com and has extensive experience related to the automotive industry.

In a statement, HyreCar CEO Joe Furnari said, “Brooke brings a wealth of invaluable experience and strategy to our board of directors. Her tenure at industry-leading technology companies, such as Cars.com, has been focused on ensuring that their digital marketplaces are well trusted by both consumers and partners, while enhancing the overall brand and image. We are eager to leverage her experience as we gain critical mass and grow our platform.”

Restaurant Group Reinstates CMO Role

The Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group announced that Mia Meachem will oversee the organization’s overall marketing, innovation and consumer engagement strategy as chief marketing officer. Meachem served as chief marketing officer at Highland Park Village before joining Del Frisco’s, which is comprised of 84 restaurants across 24 states and Washington, DC. The group revived the CMO role as part of its ongoing expansion efforts.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mia to the Del Frisco’s family. Her significant industry experience and knowledge paired with her strong leadership skills is a testament to our continued commitment to assemble a strong leadership team,” Norman Abdallah, CEO of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, said in a statement. “Mia’s past experiences working with consumer-focused companies will be undoubtedly instrumental to elevate our marketing and innovation efforts moving forward.”

Multiple SVP Promotions At Intel

Technology company Intel announced three executive promotions, including Michelle Johnston Holthaus as senior vice president. Holthaus currently serves as Intel’s interim chief marketing officer and general manager for the company’s sales and marketing group and is responsible for Intel’s global sales and revenue as it adopts new marketing approaches.

The two other appointments are Daniel McNamara and Allon Stabinsky, who were both promoted to senior vice president roles at different Intel divisions.

Ottawa Senators Score Chief Marketing Officer

Professional NHL team The Ottawa Senators announced that Aimee Deziel is joining the organization as chief marketing officer. She officially assumes the role on August 13 and will be responsible for strengthening the Senators’ marketing, sales and creative capabilities. Deziel most recently served as chief operating officer for the Momentous holding company.

Former Deloitte Partner Joins Blockchain Network

Aion Foundation, a blockchain technology network, has hired former Deloitte partner Ian Chan as a senior executive. In this role, Chan will lead operations in addition to the marketing and communications team as Aion continues to build its brand. Chan served at Deloitte for 13 years and was most recently a senior partner for its global innovation and disruption team, where he was tasked with tracking global technological trends.

“Ian has been a mentor of mine for some time, and I couldn’t be happier that he’s agreed to join our team as we position Aion to lead the blockchain ecosystem for years to come,” Aion Foundation CEO Matthew Spoke said in a statement. “This is a meaningful milestone for the growth of the Aion Foundation and for our ability to execute on our vision.”

Children’s Healthcare Organization Hires First CMO

Nonprofit healthcare organization Nemours Children’s Health System has hired Sarah Sanders (not the current White House press secretary) to the newly created role of chief marketing officer. In this role, she is tasked with leading local, regional and national marketing strategies across Central and North Florida in addition to the Delaware Valley. Prior to joining Nemours, Sanders served as the associate chief marketing officer for the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

“As a parent of three children, including a special needs child, I understand first-hand the challenges of navigating a complex health situation,” Sanders said in the announcement. “For a marketer, this is an exciting opportunity to apply my expertise in data and technology to create personalized, relevant and value-added engagement opportunities for patients and their families.”

Vauxhall Motors Appoints Former Toyota Exec As Marketing Head

Patrick Fourniol, a former executive at Toyota, has joined Vauxhall Motors as marketing director. Fourniol’s career includes marketing and sales roles at Toyota, Renault and Volkswagen in France, Germany and Belgium. According to a statement, he will be working to support the automaker’s brand recovery.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Patrick to our Company. Having started his marketing career in sales forecasting and research, and having taken full responsibility for product marketing and marketing communications, Patrick is one of the few top-level automotive professionals who can genuinely claim 360-degree marketing management experience in our industry,” said Stephen Norman, group managing director at Vauxhall Motors and Opel Ireland.

Former Madison Square Garden Company Marketing Chief Joins Betting Platform

Sports betting and gaming company William Hill announced the appointment of Sharon Otterman as its new chief marketing officer in the US. Most recently, Otterman served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer for the Madison Square Garden Company.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sharon to our rapidly-expanding team at William Hill, particularly during such an exciting time in our growth process,” said William Hill US CEO Joe Asher in a statement. “Sharon is a proven leader, and we are thrilled that we could pull her away from one of the most high-profile jobs in sports marketing to join William Hill.”

GAME Shuffles Executive Team

UK-based retailer GAME underwent restructures of its senior management team amid store closures. As a result of these changes, David Howard, who was the UK retail and property director, is now the UK managing director. In this position, Howard will oversee all of GAME’s commercial and marketing teams. Although there was no formal announcement, this shift means that Natalie Amosu, who joined the company as chief marketing officer last year, is no longer serving the post.

Marketing VP Moves Into YES Communities

YES Communities, owner and operator of manufactured home communities, announced that it has hired Vanessa Jasinski as its new vice president of marketing. Prior to joining YES, Jasinksi was the executive director of marketing for RE/MAX World Headquarters and has worked for both international and national corporations in Boston, New York, Seattle and Denver. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s strategic marketing vision by developing brand experiences with a focus on digital platforms while supporting the company’s team and residents.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly careers post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, July 27. Have a new hire tip? We’re looking for senior executive role changes in marketing and media. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

Job Vacancies 

Executive Director, Chief Marketing Officer Lenovo Chicago, IL
VP, International Marketing Carl’s Jr. Franklin, TN
VP, Head of Marketing PacSun Anaheim, CA
SVP, Digital Marketing Enterprise Technology GM Financial Irving, TX
Brand Director, Emerging Brands Heineken USA White Plains, NY
Chief Marketing Officer Banker’s Toolbox Austin, TX

Make sure to check back for updates on our jobs page.

Twitter Denies Shadow Banning; Facebook Suspends ‘Infowars’

BY

This week in social media news: Twitter fixes its allegedly biased search results and Facebook follows YouTube’s lead for dealing with hate speech on the platform.

In other news, YouTube adds social elements to its VR app, Snapchat begins an influencer ad pilot program and LinkedIn adds voice messaging. Facebook adds social video, tackles discrimination and is challenged by a former employee, Twitter questions anyone named Elon Musk, Snapchat signs its first LGBT+ partner and sells commercials in Australia. Meanwhile, China swiftly puts an end to Facebook’s subsidiary.

Also this week: Twitter gives agencies a less-than-subtle push to invest in video and protects its API, Facebook quietly sets up shop in China and Pinterest has the highest customer satisfaction, according to a new study. Snapchat’s payment system comes to an end, YouTube sees how many videos it can cram into a user’s feed and Facebook keeps looking skyward to deliver internet access.

Twitter: ‘We Do Not Shadow Ban’

In a Friday blog post, Twitter denied allegations of purposely making certain users disappear from search results.

Why it matters: Twitter insists that it is a fair and unbiased community forum, dedicated to “healthy public conversation.” However, Republican and right-leaning accounts have long accused social media of censorship—a claim that both Twitter and Facebook deny, but were concerned enough to hold secret meetings with Republicans and conservatives to address the matter. Social media platforms, while admittedly left-leaning, are walking a thin line between censorship and regulation of hate speech, made even more difficult as algorithms react to how other users interact with these accounts.

Details: Earlier this week, several media outlets reported that a number of controversial Twitter accounts may have been demoted in search results. Accounts belonging to Republican Party chair Ronna McDaniel, conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec and others failed to appear in the search drop-down menu, while far-left counterparts were unaffected. In a statement posted on Friday, Twitter explained that the problem stemmed from a glitch but it has since been resolved. The company went on to say that “hundreds of thousands” of accounts were affected, including Democrats and those not affiliated with politics.

‘Infowars’ Host Alex Jones Suspended From Facebook

Citing violations of its policies against hate speech and bullying, Facebook has banned conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from Facebook for 30 days.

Why It Matters: Facebook has been criticized for allowing controversial accounts and posts to remain on the platform, opting to demote them in the News Feed instead. The suspension of Jones’ account is a sign that Facebook could be taking a stance against such content, albeit with a temporary solution.

Details: Facebook has removed four Infowars videos deemed to violate policies against hate speech and bullying. After a review, the company has temporarily suspended Jones’ account. Infowars has also been banned from livestreaming on YouTube for 90 days.

YouTube VR App Gets Social

Beginning Thursday, YouTube’s VR app will be available for Gear VR headsets. A new feature called “Watch Together” has also been added to Daydream View and Gear VR headsets, allowing YouTube users to watch and chat about VR experiences with others in a communal space.

Why it matters: VR adoption has been a slow one but developers are placing their hope in social experiences. A VR headset, by design, shuts off its user from the outside world to allow for immersion and adding a social element back in could be the key to success on the platform. Video, in general, is becoming more of a social experience through livestreams and social media features like those on Twitch and Facebook Watch Party. YouTube recently launched a Premiere feature that allows users to promote an upcoming video ahead of time, then premiere it before a live audience.

Details: The YouTube app is now available on Gear VR headsets in addition to Daydream View, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. YouTube now hosts 800,000 experiences, including exclusives like behind-the-scenes and action adventures.

“Marketers need to have a real desire for consumers to interact with their brand or IP in VR,” Zeda Stone, head of business development for RYOT told AList. “We will probably get to the point where consumer interaction in social becomes a priority and [will] dictate whether or not VR will succeed in the end.”

Snapchat Promotes Influencers With ‘Storytellers’ Program

Popular Snapchat creators can now be featured on ads that appear on Snapchat’s Discover and Stories, giving them wider exposure to audiences and potential brand partners.

Why it matters: Snapchat has been notoriously behind the curve when it comes to fostering talent on its platform. The company is trying to make up for lost time by launching the “Yellow” incubator program and began inviting popular creators to its headquarters last spring for meetings.

Details: Snapchat has launched a pilot program called Storytellers that places ads across Discovery and Stories sections, TechCrunch reports. The ads highlight popular creators on the app at no charge to them while allowing each influencer to highlight their expertise. The pilot program is limited to a select few creators but if extended to others, could lay the foundation for a monetization platform.

LinkedIn Adds Voice Messaging; Overhauls Control Manager

LinkedIn users can now record messages for instead of typing. In addition, LinkedIn has updated its Campaign Manager to allow for more personalized navigation.

Why it matters: Hearing someone’s voice allows for better inflections and helps avoid misunderstandings that could be interpreted through text. Recording a voice message also allows users to communicate faster. The campaign manager tool lets advertisers customize views, switch between accounts and slims down the ad creation process.

Details: Leaving a voice message is now an option for mobile LinkedIn users, with the feature being added to desktops later on. Users can record a message up to one minute in length.

The refreshed Campaign Manager tool rolled out Thursday with one-click breakdowns of campaign data. Agencies can toggle between client accounts or campaigns and choose which reports they want to see.

‘Watch Party’ Goes Live For Facebook Groups

Watch Party has come out of private testing and is now available to Facebook Groups, the company announced Wednesday. The feature allows a host to stream a pre-recorded or live video while interacting with audiences.

Why it matters: If you think Watch Party sounds a lot like Twitch or YouTube’s Premiere feature, you’d be right. The difference is, Facebook’s users can select pre-existing videos and allow friends or Group members to suggest new ones as well. Video is Facebook’s next big ad-generating push that would encourage users to spend more time on its platform—and Facebook isn’t shy about copying its competitors.

Details: Facebook Groups can now host a Watch Party with its members. A host selects a pre-recorded video or begins a livestream and invites members or friends to watch together. Facebook is also testing the ability to hand the feed off to another Facebook user and let viewers suggest additional videos.

Twitter Battles Scammers Using Elon Musk Display Names

Anyone who changes their display name to Elon Musk will have their accounts automatically locked, requiring an extensive verification process before the account can be used again. The move is Twitter’s latest efforts to curb scams on the platform, particularly those around fake cryptocurrencies, an effort announced back in March.

Why it matters: Scammers always seem to be a step ahead, but Twitter has honed in one of their most popular methods. Twitter has not confirmed whether other celebrity names will trigger the new process as well.

Details: Cryptocurrency scammers have taken to changing their name to Elon Musk, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO, before replying to one of Musk’s many Twitter posts with links to “get in on the ground floor” by purchasing a cryptocurrency no one has heard of . . . because it’s fake. To curb this behavior, Twitter will now lock any user that changes their display name to one of these common offenders.

Facebook Tackles Discrimination On Ad Platform

After considerable pressure from the State of Washington and other groups, Zuckerberg’s social media giant has vowed to eliminate the ability to exclude target advertising groups based on race.

Why it matters: Facebook allows advertisers to select target groups based on a number of factors including race and family status. This means that renters and other groups can discriminate as well based on the same criteria. Facebook has vowed to amend its platform within 90 days so this discrimination is no longer possible.

Details: On Tuesday, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that it will close its ongoing investigation into Facebook’s discriminatory advertising practices, as the social network has signed an agreement to fix the problem within 90 days. The agreement is legally binding in Washington but Facebook says it will implement changes nationwide.

“Facebook’s advertising platform allowed unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sexual orientation, disability and religion,” said Ferguson in a statement. “That’s wrong, illegal, and unfair.”

PinkNews Is Snapchat’s First LGBT+ Discover Partner

UK LGBT+ outlet PinkNews launched a Discovery channel on the Snapchat app Wednesday.

Why it matters: PinkNews has been featured on Snapchat’s Discover feature in the past but not on a regular basis. This partnership will allow the site to target younger LGBT+ users and provide them with stories and features on a weekly basis, while allowing Snapchat to show off its inclusiveness.

Details: PinkNews has around five million readers with large audiences in both the UK and US. With the launch of its new Discover channel, the site hopes to reach audiences as they are “testing the boundaries of their sexuality.”

‘Pick A Side,’ Exiting Chief Security Officer Urges Facebook

Facebook’s former chief security officer Alex Stamos urged his colleagues to drive positive change in the company and fight back against a “growth at any cost” attitude.

Why it matters: The internal memo shows that while Facebook keeps a brave, non-apologetic face on the outside, there are (or were) employees that feel strongly against the company’s practices.

Details: Facebook gives the outward appearance of remaining neutral on issues by refusing to ban fake news deemed non-violent and allowing harmful content such as those who deny the Holocaust. While Mark Zuckerberg and his constituents staunchly defend their practices, Stamos urged the company to take a stand.

“We need to be willing to pick sides when there are clear moral or humanitarian issues,” he wrote. “And we need to be open, honest and transparent about our challenges and what we are doing to fix them.”

The internal email, obtained and published by BuzzFeed, also urged the company to respect user privacy and listen to people when they say a feature is “creepy.”

Snapchat Offers Non-Skippable Ads To Australian Marketers

After a successful test in the US, Australian brands can now bid on six-second ads that run during Snapchat Shows.

Why it matters: Snapchat began testing six-second ads called “commercials” during its TV-like Shows format in April. The ads were sold exclusively to US marketers but the service will become available to those in Australia and other regions.

Details: Following a testing period in the US, Snapchat has added “commercials” to its suite of options for advertisers in Australia. Beginning in August, over 100 selected Snapchat brands partners and advertisers will have access to the service across Australia, USA, Canada and the UK.

Twitter’s ‘Agency Playbook’ Nudges Marketers To Video

Twitter has released a guide for agencies that includes strategy, case studies and internal statistics to help achieve success for clients on the platform. While the “Playbook For Agencies” reviews everything from organic engagement to managing client expectations, Twitter continually redirects the attention to “video view” campaigns.

Why it matters: Video makes up half of Twitter’s ad revenue, making it an obvious sell to agencies. During its Q1 earnings call, Twitter vowed to improve its core ad offerings and placed a large emphasis on video, especially on live streaming and brand partnerships.

Details: In its newly released guide, Twitter says that video views have doubled in the last 12 months, making it the site’s fastest-growing advertising tool. Among other selling points, the company claims that tweets with video are six times more likely to be retweeted than tweets with photos. The company also outlines residual effects of a Twitter video campaign such as more followers and website visits that advertisers would not be charged for.

[Updated] Facebook Creates ‘Innovation Hub’ In China

Facebook is setting up shop in Hangzhou, China despite its site being banned in the region. Update: China has withdrawn its approval and banned any mention of Facebook in the media, a source told The New York Times on Wednesday.

Why it matters: China’s censorship on foreign news outlets means that brands like Google, Facebook and Twitter are unable to engage with the country’s massive population. Despite this hurdle, Facebook [tried] to make its presence known through training and workshops.

Details: Facebook Hong Kong, Ltd. would have served as an “innovation hub” for developers in the region, the company told Reuters on Tuesday. The company has similar hubs in other countries such as Korea, Brazil, India and France.

Consumers Name Pinterest Most Satisfying Social Media Experience

Pinterest offers the best overall experience, according to the 2018 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) E-Business Report, earning a score of 80—its highest score yet. Twitter and LinkedIn tied for last place with scores of 66.

Why it matters: Pinterest has improved on the ACSI scale for two years running, and respondents are satisfied with advertising on the platform. This is good news for the company, especially if it plans to go public next year.

Details: ACSI reports that customer satisfaction on all social media fell 1.4 percent to a score of 72 out of 100—the lowest of the three e-business categories. Pinterest has doubled its active user base since 2015 and respondents named it the best in terms of privacy (while naming Facebook the worst).

“Privacy concerns, bots, and toxic online discourse have taken their toll on social media,” said David VanAmburg, Managing Director at ACSI in a press release. “But users report they’re even less satisfied with the amount of advertising on social media sites than with privacy protections.”

Twitter Ramps Up API Security Efforts

In a Tuesday blog post, Twitter outlined a series of new developer requirements, including a new portal for managing apps. Eventually, all developers with existing access to Twitter APIs will be required to complete a developer account application in order to maintain their apps, the company warned.

Why it matters: Data privacy concerns have been forced on the consumer conscious thanks to election interference, scandals and, at the very least, a barrage of GDPR privacy policy updates. Twitter is taking a proactive approach to “cleaning house,” as it were, by removing 143,000 apps in June that violated policies and fielding developers that request access to its API from now on.

Details: Although Twitter has been working on tools and processes to better stop malicious apps once they’ve become active, they’re now taking steps to prevent access to its API before problems arise. Beginning July 24, any developers wanting access to Twitter’s API must apply for a developer account through a new portal. All applications, both existing and new, will be required to provide detailed information about how they use or intend to use Twitter’s APIs. The default number of apps that can be registered by a single developer account has been limited to 10, with additional registration available upon request.

Snapcash Will Be Discontinued Effective August 30

Snapchat’s inter-user payment system, dubbed Snapcash, will be unavailable after August 30, both Snap and its partner Square confirmed over the weekend.

Why it matters: Having a native payment system in place would give Snapchat an advantage for drawing ecommerce to its platform. The company has already partnered with several brands to create shopping experiences without having to leave the app. On the other hand, eliminating Snapcash may help curb illegal or at the very least, explicit content on the platform, such as offering nudes for Snapcash.

Details: Text unearthed in Snapchat’s Android app code revealed that Snapcash would be discontinued, ending a four-year partnership with Square. Both Snapchat and Square confirmed this news with TechCrunch Sunday, saying that users will be officially notified soon.

YouTube Tests Off-Topic Personal Recommendations

Android YouTube users have observed a new section called “More Recommended For You,” featuring additional videos based on general interests rather than the video just viewed.

Why it matters: YouTube’s algorithm may encourage viewers to stay on the site longer, venturing down a rabbit hole of videos accessible from a single screen.

Details: Once a video has been viewed on YouTube, the site will display related content. If a user is ready to move on to a different topic, they generally have to return to the home screen or conduct a manual search. As spotted by Android Police, the new “More Recommended For You” section offers an alternative based on a user’s interests, no doubt generated from Google data. When we tried the feature on Android, the section also included similar videos and was not limited to different subjects.

Facebook Satellite Would Deliver Broadband To Underserved Areas

According to emails discovered by Wired, Facebook may use a satellite called Athena to deliver broadband internet to rural and underserved areas across the world. If all goes according to plan, Athena would be launched in early 2019.

Why it matters: A quarter of the world now accesses Facebook, but supplying internet access could increase its user base even more. The process would also open communication to people in rural areas with implications for industries like commerce and education.

Details: The social media giant may have abandoned its drone idea, but Facebook isn’t giving up on plans to tap into global areas without broadband access. Using the Freedom of Information Act, Wired obtained a number of emails between Facebook and the FCC that discuss its satellite plans.

“While we have nothing to share about specific projects at this time, we believe satellite technology will be an important enabler of the next generation of broadband infrastructure, making it possible to bring broadband connectivity to rural regions where internet connectivity is lacking or non-existent,” a Facebook spokesperson told Wired.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly social media news post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, July 27. Have a news tip? We’re looking for changes to and news surrounding social media platforms as they relate to marketing. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.